CLIENTS:

Bristol-Myers Squibb has appointed Maude Simard to general manager, Consumer Products Group – Canada. She was previously VP, Marketing. Simard joined BMS subsidiary Clairol Canada in 1976 and rose through the ranks to become VP, retail marketing. Simard’s new job includes overall management, as well as strategic planning and growth performance.

Travelodge Canada has brought Dorothy Dowling on board as VP marketing. She comes to the Calgary-based hotel company from Travelodge Hotels in the U.S., where she was VP marketing and was instrumental in developing the company’s Travelodge Miles loyalty program. Gopal Rao joins the company as director, national sales and marketing from the hotelier’s real estate trust, Royal Host, where he was director, national sales.

Intrawest Corporation, Vancouver, which owns prestige ski resorts across North America, has hired Elizabeth Akey as its new regional director of sales and marketing.

Air Canada has appointed Calin Rovinescu its executive VP, corporate development and strategy, effective April 1. His responsibilities include alliances, corporate and government affairs, loyalty programs, information technology and e-commerce. As managing partner of Montreal-based law firm Stikeman Elliott, Rovinescu helped Air Canada stave off a takeover attempt by Onex Corporation, and engineer the airline’s purchase of Canadian Airlines. Air Canada has also promoted Alice Keung to VP, information technology and chief information officer from director, information technology – commercial business units, a position she’s held since last May. Keung previously worked as financial controller for the airline’s marketing and sales department.

AGENCIES:

Neil Harris has been named creative director and art director at the Richmond Hill, Ont. offices of promotional marketing agency Vectra Marketing Group. Harris will be joined by Annabel Magennis, who was hired as senior account manager. She spent the last five years at the CNE as promotions manager.

Scott Simmons has joined Sales & Merchandising Group, a division of the Mosaic Group, as VP client service. Previously, Simmons was director of marketing and communications for the Oakville,Ont.-based Royal Canadian Golf Association.

MEDIA:

Mark Updegrove has been appointed president of Time Canada with responsibility for all publishing operations, including advertising, circulation and promotion. Updegrove, a Philadelphia native, was most recently division manager of Time’s Los Angeles office. He takes over from Don Brown, who is retiring.

Toronto-based Key Media has named Renata Kunz the new consumer marketing manager for Toronto Life, Fashion and Canadian Art magazines. She joins the company from Saturday Night, where she held the same position.

The Globe and Mail has appointed Shannon McPeak vice-president, corporate sales to spearhead integrated advertising sales across all the Globe’s media properties – newspaper, magazine, television and online. McPeak will also retain her responsibilities as VP, national advertising sales.

Stephen Petherbridge, the former head of the Globe’s magazine operations, has been named VP, TV/New Ventures. He’ll be responsible for ROBTv and develop new broadcast initiatives.

Helen Cochran has been given the role of VP, new business development for Globe Information Services, which includes the globeandmail.com Web site. Cochran has been working on new business initiatives for the Globe for the past year, including the launch of print and online product GlobeMegawheels.

ExtendMedia, a producer of interactive television (iTV) programming, has appointed Steve Billinger as president and COO. He was formerly director of interactive programming at U.K.-based News Corporation’s BskyB’s TV. Billinger will be joined by Ian Valentine, who comes on board as executive VP, business development. Their responsibilities include strengthening the company’s alliances with entertainment industry leaders. ExtendMedia is headquartered in Toronto, with offices in New York and Los Angeles.

With the pandemic continuing to keep in-person events off the table, innovation isn’t just a bonus – it’s an imperative. Companies need creative tech to engage with consumers, whether that’s live-streaming, gaming or data-driven personalization. This is the year that remote comes first, making it an opportune time to experiment with format, devices and tools.

Joshua Richards

Director, Creative Technology, john st.